6 . Many disaster-relief programs transport tons of supplies, such as food, water and heavy equipment, by road using large trucks. But some supplies may weigh just a few kilograms or less. For example, a package might contain a few doses of life-saving medicine.

The parachutes (降落伞) that carry these packages from planes are often made of nylon (尼龙). After one use, these parachutes are usually discarded. Because nylon is a polymer (聚合物), it does not decompose quickly. Therefore, Natalie looked for a greener alternative.

Nylon is strong, but a parachute used only once for light packages does not need to be that strong. Paper might be good enough, thought the teen. Plus, a paper parachute can be folded into a tiny package, just like a fabric parachute. Moreover, she notes there are many different ways to fold the unopened paper parachute.

Natalie came up with several folded designs and tested them. Her first models were small, so she could test them indoors. Two were triangular (三角形的). Two more were rectangular (长方形的). One of the rectangular ones opened most smoothly, she found. It also fell and landed most steadily as it dropped through the air. “Such features can be important when the goal is to deliver a package to the ground softly and accurately,” she says.

Natalie showcased her designs at the Intel International Science and Engineering Fair. Natalie’s single-use paper parachutes are not harmful to the environment. They are also less expensive than parachutes made from more traditional materials. A nylon parachute of the same size as her design would cost about $31, she says. One made from silk, another common parachute fabric, would cost almost $16. But a parachute made from paper would likely cost less than $1, Natalie estimates.

1. Why are many relief supplies mentioned in the first paragraph?

A．To list an example.

B．To answer a question.

C．To lead in the topic.

D．To make a comparison.

2. What does the underlined word “decompose” mean in paragraph 2?

A．Go bad.

B．Break down.

C．Run away.

D．Bend down.

3. Which of the following paper parachute is fit for delivering packages softly?

A．A small one.

B．A big one.

C．A rectangular one.

D．A triangular one.

4. What is the best title for the text?

A．Reducing Environmental Impact with Paper Parachutes

B．Eco-friendly Paper Parachutes for Disaster Relief

C．The High Cost of Traditional Parachutes

D．A Teen’s Quest for Better Disaster Relief

7 . 阅读下面材料，根据其内容和所给段落开头语续写两段，使之构成一篇完整的短文。

My heart sank when I received the news—no salary again. How would I manage the increasing bills, the groceries and my children’s needs? The future seemed hopeless. With a heavy heart, I hurried to pick up my two children, my mind racing wildly.

That’s when I saw it—a wallet, lying on the sidewalk. It was as if fate had thrown me a lifeline (救生索). Hope came to me as I approached it. The wallet was large, and when I opened it, my eyes widened in disbelief at the sight of a large amount of cash inside it. I hesitated for a moment, torn between the immediate relief that this money promised and the morality (道德) of keeping it.

Curiosity led me to search through the wallet. The things it contained were a photo and a couple of business cards. No matter how much I wanted to take the contents, my moral principles and inner voice told me not to do this. The decision became clear; I couldn’t keep this money. It wasn’t rightfully mine.

I picked out a business card. The name and number were there. With a deep breath, I dialed the number and explained my find to the voice on the other end. The voice came, completely emotionless, warning that they would come to me. He hung up without even saying “thank you”. I was angry with the impoliteness. I even regretted my decision, but my conscience (良知) did not allow me to go back on my choice. I had told the voice where I lived and went to get my children.

Shortly after we arrived home, a large black car suddenly pulled up to our house. The driver got out and knocked on the door. When I opened it, the driver told me that the owner of the wallet wanted me to personally hand over his wallet.

注意：
1．续写词数应为150左右;
2．请按如下格式在答题卡的相应位置作答。

I didn’t want to do so, but I agreed to go with the driver at last.

___________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________

He wanted to reward me for my honesty and kind act.

___________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________

8 . 阅读下面短文，在空白处填入1个适当的单词或括号内单词的正确形式。

On 12th January 2007, an experiment     1     (conduct). About a thousand morning commuters (通勤者) passing through a subway station in Washington, D.C. were treated to a free mini-concert     2     (perform) by violinist Joshua Bell, who played for about 45 minutes on his Stradivarius violin. Bell reportedly paid 3.5 million dollars for the violin. However, only 7 people stopped and stayed to listen for a while. About 27 gave him money but continued to walk at their normal pace. He collected $52.17. When he finished     3     (play) and silence took over, no one noticed it. No one applauded, nor was there any     4     (recognize). No one noticed that one of the best musicians in the world had played one of the most difficult pieces ever written with a violin worth 3.5 million dollars.

When some children would stop     5     (listen), their parents would grab them and quickly take them away. The experiment was     6     (clear) disappointing but raised some     7     (interest) questions such as “In an ordinary setting at an inconvenient time, would beauty be recognized by most people?” Three days earlier, in fact, Bell had played to a full house at Boston’s Symphony Hall,     8     tickets went for over $100.

This experiment gives way to a comparison of     9     public’s awareness of art in different settings.     10     pressure, it also reminds us of the challenge of adapting to surroundings. Furthermore, it makes us aware of how our intentions and expectations can influence our perception of worth.

9 . The 17-year-old Roman was about to leave the foster (寄养) care system as he turned 18. All Roman ever wanted was to have his family ________. But just in time, he was ________ as a child by Brad and Renee. This was a ________ for him, as he had nowhere else to go.

Roman had been in and out of nineteen ________ foster homes since he was 11. Seeing his upcoming 18th birthday, Brad and Renee wanted to give him stability (稳定) before he ________ the foster care system.

Roman had ________ stayed with Brad’s family when he was 12, but he wasn’t ready to be part of a family at that time due to his ________ of being abandoned (拋弃).

Years later, Roman reconnected with the family and expressed his ________ to live with them again. In December, the family decided to welcome Roman and ________ the happy news with him on Christmas Day. Roman ________ a special stocking, symbolizing his adoption (领养) into the family. Everyone cried tears of ________ with Roman.

They ________ time to officially adopt him before his 18th birthday. Finally, on October 17, just one day before his birthday, Roman officially became a member of this family. Now, living in a peaceful and loving home, he finally has the chance to ________ the childhood moments he never had.

The family’s ________ to open their hearts and home to Roman shines a light on the great difference a ________ and supportive family can make in a young person’s life.

1.

A．nearly

B．lately

C．forever

D．probably

2.

A．accepted

B．touched

C．attracted

D．recognized

3.

A．revision

B．regret

C．goal

D．wonder

4.

A．suitable

B．different

C．advanced

D．responsible

5.

A．fled

B．quit

C．left

D．ran

6.

A．shortly

B．extremely

C．happily

D．equally

7.

A．sign

B．pressure

C．challenge

D．fear

8.

A．plan

B．willingness

C．chance

D．ability

9.

A．connected

B．compared

C．shared

D．charged

10.

A．received

B．saw

C．damaged

D．sold

11.

A．surprise

B．excitement

C．disappointment

D．joy

12.

A．raced against

B．swept off

C．carried away

D．left out

13.

A．promote

B．enjoy

C．identify

D．remember

14.

A．measure

B．dream

C．decision

D．power

15.

A．close

B．loving

C．safe

D．rich

10 . High school can be an exciting yet challenging experience for many students. Read on and take a look at the following suggestions to help you make it through this period of your life.

Take your studies seriously. High school is a time to start thinking about your future. Good grades will open many doors for you, including higher education opportunities and personal growth.     1     If you find yourself struggling with your studies, you can seek help from your teachers and parents.

    2     High school can be challenging with a lot of work and activities. Effective time management helps you organize tasks, plan schedules, and achieve goals well. And many facts prove that practicing good time management in high school can build a strong foundation for success in college or in future jobs.

Make good use of the resources in your school. High schools offer many kinds of resources that can help you to learn and achieve personal growth.     3     By taking advantage of these resources, you can develop study, social and personal skills. So, explore all the resources to develop yourself into an intelligent and all-round person.

Be open to making new friends. Hanging out with friends is great. However, it’s better to step out of your familiar environment and introduce yourself to new people. Making new friends can open up more possibilities, sharpen your social skills, and build a support system for you.     4    

Take care of your mental health. High school life is stressful for many reasons, and it’s important to pay attention to your mental health.     5     Also, you can talk to a trusted adult if you face pressure, anxiety, or other health problems.

A．Develop good time management skills.

B．They include libraries, labs, gyms and more.

C．Moreover, friends can bring joy and happiness to your life.

D．So, make sure you are putting studies at the top of your list.

E．It’s a time of change, growth, exploration and self-discovery.

F．Taking a good rest and getting exercise can help reduce stress.

G．Exchange programs offer you an opportunity to experience new cultures.